Caring for Multiple Cats

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Do you have more than one kitty? Are you considering adding a second—or even third—furball to your household? While many kitties are best buds with their feline roommates, unfortunately, not all of our furry friends get along that well. Some cats just don’t like to share their people! However, there are some things you can to do to help your cute pets get along. Here, a local Fort Collins, CO vet offers tips on caring for multiple cats.

Introductions

First impressions are very, very important to our feline pals. It could take months to undo the damage caused by a bad first meeting! When introducing your cats, take your time, and let them get used to one another’s scents before you allow them to interact freely. Ask your vet for specific advice.

Veterinary Care

Keep your furry buddies on the same schedule for exams and vaccinations. You also want to administer parasite control products at the same time. Otherwise, fleas may jump off one kitty and onto the other!

Litterboxes

Cats like to have privacy when they are doing their business, and they don’t care for sharing bathrooms. As a general rule of thumb, you’ll want one box per kitty, plus at least one extra.

Toys

Make sure your feline buddies have plenty of toys to play with, and take time to play with them every day. Playing with both of your cats at the same time can help them form positive associations about each other, and will also help them burn off excess energy. Cats all have their own purrsonal opinions about toys, so get a variety of different ones.

Furniture

When choosing furniture, get pieces that will fit all of your feline friends at once. Otherwise, your cats may fight over whose turn it is to use the cat tower or kitty tent! You also want to make sure there are enough beds to go around.

Jealousy

Kitties can be very, very jealous of one another. Make sure to pay all of your furballs equal attention. This can be difficult if the newcomer is a kitten, because, as we all know, baby cats are almost impossibly cute, and they’re also always demanding attention. Don’t let your resident cat feel left out!

Do you have questions or concerns about cat care? We can help! Call us, your Fort Collins, CO animal clinic, anytime!